Masahito Kakihara

is a Japanese former professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, who is known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and UWF International (UWFI).

Professional wrestling career Union of Wrestling Forces International (1991–1996) Kakihara actually joined UWF Newborn in 1989 and debuted a year later, but the promotion folded shortly after. He then joined its new incarnation, UWF-i, where he became an apprentice under Nobuhiko Takada. A promising rookie, he was booked accordingly and soon had wins over Kiyoshi Tamura, Gary Albright and Dan Severn. In 1995, during the interpromotional feud between UWF-i and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Kakihara was one of the few who were given victories in his side, defeating Kensuke Sasaki, Shinjiro Otani and Yuji Nagata. Later, when UWF-i started another feud with Wrestle Association R, Kakihara teamed up with Takada and Yuhi Sano to win the WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. He also had an appearance in one of the first events of Battlarts, beating Satoshi Yoneyama. In 1996, UWF-i folded as well. He spent some time in the next incarnation, Kingdom Pro Wrestling, but it was short-lived.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1998–2001) Kakihara and his Kingdom partner Yoshihiro Takayama debuted in All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1998. They reunited with Gary Albright to form the second incarnation of the Triangle of Power stable, which would get into a feud with The Holy Demon Army, but they split up later when Takayama left to found No Fear with Takao Omori and Satoru Asako. Kakihara then joined Mitsuharu Misawa and his Untouchables faction, where he teamed up with Yoshinari Ogawa. Out of kayfabe, Misawa wanted Kakihara to be pushed as the second member of the group, but Giant Baba opposed, feeling Kakihara was too undersized and hadn't paid his dues with the promotion yet.

In 2000, Misawa, Kakihara and a large group of wrestlers left to form Pro Wrestling Noah, but he soon left the promotion because of a few personal problems with fellow wrestler Takao Omori. In his first and only match for NOAH, a six-man tag team match involving him, Yoshinari Ogawa and Daisuke Ikeda against Omori, Takayama and Satoru Asako on the promotion's first show, Kakihara appeared wearing mixed martial arts gloves and got in a scuffle with Omori, beating him down with stiff strikes. Immediately after Kakihara left, claiming he was interested in competing for Pride Fighting Championships like several of his fellow shoot-style wrestlers. New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Jr. 6 Man Tag Team Tournament (2001) - with Minoru Tanaka and Masayuki Naruse Wrestle Association "R" WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Nobuhiko Takada and Yuhi Sano WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship Tournament (1996) - with Nobuhiko Takada and Yuhi Sano

Mixed martial arts record Win

Rocky Romero Submission (kneebar) Jungle Fight 3

Manaos, Brazil